Magnus

This is bad. Too bad. So bad. How the Hell did the Royal Guard let that happen? Sure, their main job is to keep the Alpha King alive and well and guard his family and not so much to care for the rest in the line. And since they had done their job impeccably- Almost.

My mind goes back to the times I had to save Sigvard. The Royal Guard was there and did their part but I am fairly certain that if I was not there, Sigvard wouldn't draw breath to deliver all those smug remarks.

"Magnus?" Antiope asks.

Fuck, my Luna opened a can full of worms and just in time. There is something seriously rotten here and I am scared to think how far it will go.

I cross the room and go straight to her. I pick her up and gather her to me. I know I am grabbing too tight but the thought alone that I might lose her. People would want to harm her to harm me. Is this a greater punishment from the Moon Goddess for the atrocities I harbored? Give me a mate, show me how it is to love and then take it away from me? NO!

I will beg and offer my self to eternal pain than see Antiope harmed. I bury my nose to her neck, to where she is marked for me and I inhale. If I am to live in Hell forever, I need to have that smell engraved in my mind.

"I-"

"Nothing will harm you. Nothing!" I growl.

"Magnus, I-"

"I will kill anyone and anything even trying."

"Then how about letting me breathe?" She strains.

I push her back to look at her face and she is smiling. How can she be smiling?

"That's so much better," she takes one deep breath. "You should try that."

"What?"

"Take a goddamn breath and tell me why you were ready to suffocate me. With love, I get that. But still. Oxygen had a hard time finding its way to my lungs."

That sharp tongue of hers! I have better use for it. And if she wants me to relax she can-

"OK, OK, OK," Egil comes next to me. "You reek of someone ready to do something no one wants to see their Alpha and Luna do, right guys?"

Only then I am reminded that there are other people in the room. I smell the air and it's filled with my marking smell, the smell of sex lingering, thick and heavy. Egil is right. This is not the time.

"I need to get Sigvard," I announce.

"Is he in danger?" Antiope inquires.

"My instincts tell me yes," I shake my head. "And I do not trust the Royal Guard. They let this happen. And the attack on you... You were right, little girl. There is something sinister at work here. Sigvard would be safer in my pack and we can work things better from here."

"OK," Antiope takes one step away from my arms. "Torhild, prepare an escort. Egil you are taking over. And I am not taking Thane with me," she turns to me. "I need him here to take care of Celia."

"What are you talking about?"

"When do we leave?"

"We don't!" I frown. "I am going in. You are staying here, where you are safe."

"Like Hell I am! I am not letting you be in danger without me. We do this together."

"I need to be focused, Antiope and I cannot do that with you in the line of fire."

"A fire you wouldn't know was on till I told you!"

"And you did well, mate. Now, let me do my job. Torhild, an escort. Small and stealthy. I am not going through the open doors. I will contact Sigvard to be ready for extraction. We go in and out hopefully before anyone notices we are there."

"Magnus, don't-"

I do not let her finish. I can't even stand the thought. I grab her in my arms and I close her mouth with mine. I glue her body to mine and lean in to deepen the kiss. Sparks fly where we touch and her smell is driving me insane. And to think I was ready to let her go. The kiss goes wild at the idea and she responds wildly.

"For the love of the Goddess!" Egil interrupts again. "I understand it took you some time and you need to release all the sexual tension but can you stop this?"

I smile against her lips and she is smiling too. We had sparks flying before the Goddess revealed what we truly are to each other. The feeling now is thousand times multiplied.

"It pains me to leave you, älskling," I whisper against her cheek before I leave a kiss there.

"Then don't leave me. I am coming with you."

My stubborn, brave, strong little girl. Headstrong as always.

"OK," I lie. "We leave tomorrow. I will contact Sigvard."

"Be careful," she says.

She looks at me with worry and caresses my arms affectionately. She cares for me. Truly cares for me. I could die a happy man now. Die gladly to protect her.

We finish the meeting but my mind is wondering. Today might be our last day together and I am planning on making it memorable.

"OK, we need to see over somethings," Antiope says when everyone is gone. "I will call to have our lunch brought here."

"No," I say and take her in my arms.

"No lunch?"

"Not here."

I take her hand in mine and lead her out the office, down the stairs and outside. If we had time I would have taken her to the city for a proper candlelight dinner. I hope that when all this is over, we will have all the time in the world.

She says nothing nor asks any questions. She just lets her hand warmly nest into mine and walks right beside me by the lakeshore. We have come far. From suspicion and hate to trust and love.

I lead her to a spot in the lake I love. It's not far from the packhouse but the twists and turns of the lake and the forest hide it away. It's as if we are alone in the world, with only the blue sky above us.

I have mind-linked a few people and everything is set. A small warm fire, blankets, a basket filled with food. That's how our first day as true mates should have been. Not filled with conspiracies and ominous predictions for the future. Just her and me, in each other's company, in each other's arm.

"This is amazing!" Antiope says and squeezes my hand.

"I am glad you like it. It had to be done in a hurry and I know it's not perfect but-"

"It's absolutely perfect!"

Antiope decides to persuade me of her true feeling by wrapping her arms around my neck and climbing on her toes. I am not letting her fight for it too hard. I lean and cradle her head in my hands. I look upon her face for a few seconds before I take her lips into a burning kiss.

All my agony, all my fears, the slight notion that she might be in danger, all of it it's poured into this kiss. And I feel the same passion coming from her and I feel the bond vibrate. That feeling is so new and so natural as if it was always there. She hasn't been in my life long and yet I have a hard time remembering life without her. Then again, I wasn't really living before her.

I put a stop to this kiss for it would lead to anything other than eating and talking. Antiope lets a disappointed moan and I smile. Until last night, we were both virgins and now we are bent on making up for lost time but I need to make up for another lost time. The time I spent threatening her sister to keep her with me, the time I used our stupid quid pro quo game to make her share a goddamn meal with me. Now she is here and we are going to sit and eat like a real couple, as true mates.

I take her hand and sit on the blanket taking her down with me, placing her over my lap. She giggles and it's music to my ears. Antiope is a hard Beta, a warrior, a fighter and an able leader. To hear her giggle like that means that she is letting go around me. Finally.

"What does my little girl want to eat first?" I ask whispering in her ear.

"You," she replies.

OK. I guess we are not eating then. Perfectly fine by me.

With one move, I roll her under me and cover her body with mine. I tried to be romantic but she doesn't seem to be interested in those things.

"Good!" Henrar roars. "I want them. Now."

His possessiveness washes over me and I make quick work of our clothes. I feel my wolf stir and demand to be released but if Henrar and Maximo mate, pregnancy is guaranteed. Antiope is not in heat yet so we are safe. Oh, we will have many offsprings, pups to fill that Alpha residence but not now. Not with that threat looming over us.

That thought makes me pause for a while and think of the other reason I brought her out here for a romantic dinner. But I can't duel on that, not while my mate is wrapping her long legs around my waist, not while she caresses my neck, not while her kiss is a burning inferno.

I lean closer and I push her legs open with my hips. I want to be gentle but I can't control myself. When I come closer and my erection finds her slit wet and hot and ready for me, I don't pause for a moment. I ram inside her, fill her to the hilt and lock my jaw as Antiope lets out a pleased scream beneath me.

"Du är min," I howl.

"I am yours," she says having read the meaning of my words through our bond.

"And I am yours, little girl," I stop to kiss her lips sweetly. "I may have kept you a prisoner before, but I am at your mercy now."

"I promised you, Alpha Ulfisson," she smirks. "You will regret it."

I move my hips back and push forward again with force just to see her eyes roll in pleasure.

"Oh, I seriously doubt that, little girl," I lick her lips. "I seriously doubt that."